While Texas state officials claim to be looking into the matter, the state’s DMV has outlawed any rebodied vehicles and has started to revoke titles and registrations for dune buggies in the state, a move that has provoked Texan kit car enthusiasts to start lobbying the state to re-legalize the vehicles.

As far back as 2013, the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles put a halt to registrations of newly built dune buggies, grandfathering in previously built and registered dune buggies. While some owners of Volkswagen-based fiberglass-bodied beach cars reported success registering their kit cars under the donor vehicle’s identity, the state DMV in March 2015 adopted Texas Administrative Rule 217.3 (6), which explicitly made any vehicle “designed or determined by the department to be a dune buggy” ineligible for title “regardless of the vehicle’s previous title and/or registration.” The only other vehicles that, as a group, the Texas Administrative Code specifies as ineligible for title are race cars, off-road vehicles, and flooded cars.

Starting earlier this year, the Texas DMV has sent letters to dune buggy and sand rail owners in the state alerting them that their titles have been revoked and that the owners have to surrender the vehicle’s original title, windshield sticker, and license plates to the DMV. The letters note that the state considers dune buggies and sand rails “designed for off-road usage and may not be legally operated for use on Texas streets or public roadways.”

Adam Shaivitz, a spokesman for the Texas DMV, said the decision to ban dune buggies came about “because many of these vehicles do not have key safety components or do not have a body at all. These vehicles, as manufactured, were not designed for on-road use. These vehicles, as modified from previously manufactured vehicles, also do not keep their on-road qualities.”

While he said that the DMV is currently researching how other states regulate dune buggies, sand rails, and other rebodied vehicles, that process is in the early stages.

Vincent Parisien, the president of the Manx Club, said that the title revocations and the ban on dune buggy registrations amounts to discrimination without merit. “We’re not about making the streets more dangerous,” he said. “Our members are willing to go through all the same safety standards as other cars.”

However, as Parisien pointed out, a number of Texan dune buggy enthusiasts have already resorted to selling their vehicles out of state, and others have parked their dune buggies fearing both the devaluation of their vehicles and the risk of facing legal trouble if they were to drive them on the streets.

To counter the ban, he said Manx Club officials have contacted Texas State Representative Ed Thompson, who has already requested the Texas DMV rescind its ban; the SEMA Action Network; and the Historic Vehicle Association, which added Bruce Myers’s Old Red to the National Historic Vehicle Register in 2014.

Bentley Tsays:

November 6, 2017 11:55 pm

JohnCsays:

November 7, 2017 7:44 am

One weapon against this is where are the stats? Are people being injured at a higher rate in dune buggies? Has there been any horrific recent accidents? If safety is the goal, speeding (I mean really speeding) and alcohol is a much bigger risk. You don’t need new laws, just enforce what you have.

Sounds like this is just one of those “oh it’s just different, I don’t like it” babel. Everybody needs to drive a blahmobile.

Sandy Brainskysays:

November 7, 2017 8:36 am

Roger K Johnsonsays:

November 7, 2017 8:50 am

so are all the hotrods gonna be banned as well like the 32 ford an the chop top cars and all the old vehicles that were unaltered like the pre 40s cars that still drive on the roads going to lose their ability to be licensed and insured because they are unsafe

Auld Sodgersays:

November 16, 2017 7:59 pm

Possibly varies by state but until a claim is made it might not fraud. The underwriting process differs by types, amounts of coverage and issues specific to the type and purpose of insurance (eg, life insurance vs flood insurance, smoker vs non-smoker, what it really is as opposed to what you said it was and so on) but until a claim is submitted to the insurance company not a whole lot of fraud has been committed. However, you can bet that the more serious the claim the more serious the investigation before the claim is paid and you just might wind up finding out that you have very little to no coverage under the terms of the contract. However, that will not deter the plaintiff’s lawyer from going after your boat, truck, house or whatever else it takes to pay his fees and his client.

JRsays:

November 7, 2017 2:34 pm

Sounds like this is safety oriented, opens a can of worms as to who defines what is safe. Anything with less than 10 airbags/antilock brakes/collision warning/etc could be the list someday. I just want that future no sooner than when I am gone !!!!

Donniesays:

November 16, 2017 4:49 pm

Well unfortunately what is safe is up for debate. Lets go ahead and use a Dune Buggy since this is what its all about. You remove the VW body which contains all of the structural support, roof, etc. You then in most cases take out 10, 12, 15, etc inches out of the chassis and weld it back together. This alters what the manufacture designed and intended the chassis to be used for.

Right or wrong this can be safety issue and this is part of what the Rule says.

I am against this law 100% but people need to be really careful on how this is approached because it can backfire on them .

Auld Sodgersays:

November 16, 2017 8:36 pm

Donnie is making a good point here. Once the manufacturer’s design has been modified his liability is likely abrogated and someone else has now assumed liability; likely the owner who may or may not have a claim against his mechanic, and so on (good luck…).

And this brings up something that I have wondered about for some time. We have all seen light trucks and automobiles with extreme modifications to suspension, tire sizes and combinations of both – affecting everything from steering geometry and spring rates to center of gravity and braking. Only a fool would not understand that many (if not all) are no longer safe to drive under highway conditions.

Is anyone familiar with case examples where vehicles modified as described have 1) been involved in incidents where these modifications were deemed to have been a factor either in causing the incident or contributing to to it in anyway (eg, unable to brake sufficiently to avoid the collision due to overly small tires on the front wheels or a rollover due to a exaggerated center of gravity) and 2) drivers charged as a result?

MATsays:

November 7, 2017 3:14 pm

dukeisdukesays:

November 7, 2017 5:59 pm

Living in Texas, I’m baffled by this ban. I don’t see that many dune buggies, but I see one every once in awhile. How could they be less safe than motorcycles? Dune buggies have been on the roads for over 50 years. Why ban them now?

Donniesays:

November 16, 2017 4:50 pm

C. F. Massiesays:

November 10, 2017 5:50 pm

What next Kit Cars?? I believe it is more than just citizens that have or had loved ones injured or killed in Dune Buggy accidents, that cannot be too high a percentage. The old adage ‘Follow the Money’ it has to be industry related possibly car dealers selling vehicles that sell or modify street legal vehicles for off road use, and of course their state representatives. A Meyers Manx or similar dune buggy are registered and titled as their frame and engine which the majority would be Volkswagen bug chassis’s, so are they telling us any use of a bug chassis would not be legal for road use, there goes a lot of Kit Cars off the streets.

Donniesays:

November 16, 2017 4:51 pm

robertsays:

November 11, 2017 7:43 am

A worry for sure. People are talking about street rods /rat rods , etc being a possible target, but stock early cars will not be exempt as most street rods have far superior braking, steering and handling dynamics than a standard early vehicle.

At least they do in Australia where there is well defined set of build guidelines that includes dual circuit brakes, seatbelts collapsible columns , boxed chassis, etc and a ridgid pre registration check which is applicable in every State. We still get to build – and most importantly drive – great rides. But we are not exempt from Government medling from our national representatives . The asbestos issue is but one we are dealing with along with a bureaucrat now able to keep an import on the wharf if it is deemed by them to be modified.

P T Cheshiresays:

November 12, 2017 9:14 am

Reading the law, I see it states “re bodied vehicles”. So does that include the replacement Camaro, Mustang, 57 Chevy and the other reproduction bodies also? For that matter, could it include the Art Morrison Up grade Chassis for the Tri Fives and other autos? Too many grey areas for Texas DMV to enforce on a whim.

chipsays:

November 12, 2017 10:22 am

The Reach of Government.has gone to far and for many many years…Safety.is not a factor..”they” are getting Noise from the Auto, Cycle, 2 & 3 wheel, Slingshot, Elio, Morgan,Ski-doo Spyder, 4 wheel UTV Builders & INSURANCE COMPANIES…Local Government has Lost site of the Individual Freedoms..They need Uniform Styles on & Off the Paved roads,,from the Length of your lawn to the vehicles parked in your driveway..Now they wish to remove any form of personal auto mobility…This freedom of the “OPEN” Road brings Strengths and a power they do not want you to have..This freedom is a strength they do not want you to have..This Gives you a strength, a power that leads to more Defiance… Im not making this up..they need to control and are in fear of this Freedom of choice on the highways..it will start with this and move on to many other forms of transportation.. Street rods, Custom Bikes, etc etc..Its all about Uniformity and the stronger lobbyists of the Auto industry,and all other manufactured vehicles.. All this From Government Studies. Your local, state & fed have these fears and are placing these control features into our lives wherever they can… Safety is their word of choice..or make our streets more appealing to others,show how safe our streets are.The Insurance companies Auto and more Spend Millions to get this Done..Soon it will come to your hometown..

R Henrysays:

November 13, 2017 5:20 pm

DGINBGsays:

November 14, 2017 10:01 pm

SO ARE THEY GOING TO REVOKE THE TITLES ON VW BUGS? I THINK YOU GOT THEM THERE, AFTERALL THE FLOORPAN AND THE MECHANICALS ARE THE SAME. THEY ARE JUST AS SAFE EVEN THOUGH THE BODY IS DIFFERENT. TO CITE A POINT MADE BY OTHERS, MOTORCYCLES HAVE NO BODY, ARE THEY GOING TO REVOKE THEIR TITLES TOO. FORCE THEM TO THE LIMIT, THEY HAVE TO CAVE-IN.

Ben Reynoldssays:

November 15, 2017 4:54 pm

If I’m not mistaken, a company several years back tried to market a manufacturers ATV for street use. They were turned down. This caused to company to scream fouls pointing out sand rails. This the mess. The issue is most sand rails used actuall road worthy vehicles attaching open roll cages. This makes them more sturdy that the original, and it calls into question this new law. You can’t complain about it being dangerous and ignor motorcycles which have no covering at all.

JRsays:

November 17, 2017 12:49 pm

After reading the responses, a thought comes to mind. WHAT would it take to satisfy the legislators zeal? They need to come up with an acceptable fix/inspection, not just a flat revocation of registration/titles. And if an acceptable fix is defined, other states should be able to adopt it too, if their legislators see a problem they feel needs addressed.

Raul Torressays:

December 7, 2017 12:36 pm

Only the ones that have the honor to be raised around a buggy will understand and fight this law. I know that every buggy it’s different in terms of how it ‘s re-design, but if there’s a way to make them road worthy I think this will have an effect how this law will be revoked and adjusted. Hope for the best as I’m a Meyers Manx buggy owner myself.

December 31, 2017 12:45 pm

Ronsays:

December 31, 2017 1:01 pm

Who are the legislators being bribed by in Texas? I bet manufacturers of any vehicle that the dune buggies compete with on the market. They can’t stand the injuneuaty of the average car guy competing with them in his garage.